Systems and methods including palatal expanders with anchor interfaces

Abstract

A series of a palatal expanders increasing width can be used to gradually expand a patient's palate. Each palatal expander may have a palatal region flanked by teeth regions. The palatal region can have a plurality of anchor-receiving features (e.g., anchor interfaces) that allow the palatal expander to be attached to temporary anchorage device anchors that have been implanted into the patient's maxilla.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for expanding a patient's palate through a plurality of incremental stages of a palatal expansion plan, the system comprising:
 a plurality of palatal expanders, each palatal expander of the plurality of palatal expanders having a different shape and size for expanding the patient's palate according to a different incremental stage of the palatal expansion plan, each palatal expander comprising:
 a palatal region corresponding to the patient's palate at one incremental stage of the plurality of incremental stages of the palatal expansion plan, and configured to exert an outward, lateral force on the patient's palate according to the one incremental stage of the palatal expansion plan, the palatal region having a first rigidity; 
 one or more anchor interfaces configured to receive a corresponding one or more anchors extending from the patient's maxilla, the one or more anchor interfaces configured to direct at least a portion of the outward, lateral force to the patient's maxilla through the one or more anchors to facilitate skeletal expansion of the patient's maxilla during the one incremental stage of the palatal expansion plan; and 
 one or more soft portions having a second rigidity less than the first rigidity of the palatal region, wherein the second rigidity facilitates gripping of the one or more anchors by the one or more soft portions when the one or more anchors are received within the one or more anchor interfaces. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more soft portions has a higher compliance than the palatal region. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more anchor interfaces includes one or more openings, and wherein the one or more soft portions reside within the one or more openings. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more anchor interfaces are formed within the palatal region. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the palatal region is shaped to provide a gap between the palatal region and the patient's palate. 
     
     
       6. A palatal expander of a series of palatal expanders for expanding a patient's palate according to a plurality of incremental stages of a palatal expansion plan, the palatal expander comprising:
 a palatal region corresponding to the patient's palate at one incremental stage of the plurality of incremental stages of the palatal expansion plan, and configured to exert an outward, lateral force to expand the patient's palate according to the one incremental stage of the palatal expansion plan, the palatal region having a first rigidity; 
 one or more teeth receiving portions coupled to the palatal region, the one or more teeth receiving portions having a shape and size to receive at least a portion of the patient's teeth; 
 one or more anchor interfaces configured to receive a corresponding one or more anchors extending from the patient's maxilla, the one or more anchor interfaces configured to direct at least a portion of the outward, lateral force to the patient's maxilla through the one or more anchors to facilitate skeletal expansion of the patient's maxilla according to the one incremental stage of the palatal expansion plan; and 
 one or more soft portions having a second rigidity less than the first rigidity of the palatal region, wherein the second rigidity facilitates gripping of the one or more anchors by the one or more soft portions when the one or more anchors are received within the one or more anchor interfaces. 
 
     
     
       7. The palatal expander of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more anchor interfaces include one or more openings, and wherein the one or more soft portions reside within the one or more openings. 
     
     
       8. The palatal expander of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more anchor interfaces are formed within the palatal region. 
     
     
       9. The palatal expander of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more anchor interfaces includes one or more openings, wherein the one or more openings is beveled at a beveled region. 
     
     
       10. The palatal expander of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more soft portions is located at least at the beveled region of the one or more openings. 
     
     
       11. The palatal expander of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more teeth receiving portions is configured to be placed over one or more of: a lingual surface of the patient's teeth, an occlusal surface of the patient's teeth, and a buccal surface of the patient's teeth. 
     
     
       12. The palatal expander of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more anchor interfaces are located on opposing lateral sides of the palatal region. 
     
     
       13. The palatal expander of  claim 6 , wherein the palatal expander is configured to sufficiently bend to fit the palatal expander into the patient's dental arch. 
     
     
       14. The palatal expander of  claim 6 , wherein the palatal expander includes two or more anchor interfaces. 
     
     
       15. The palatal expander of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more anchor interfaces have a cross-sectional profile having one or more of a round, an elliptical and a polygonal shape. 
     
     
       16. The palatal expander of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more soft portions has a higher compliance than the palatal region. 
     
     
       17. A method of expanding a patient's palate, the method comprising:
 placing a palatal expander into the patient's dental arch, wherein the palatal expander is one of a series of palatal expanders for expanding the patient's palate according to a plurality of incremental stages of a palatal expansion plan, wherein the palatal expander has a palatal region that exerts an outward, lateral force to expand the patient's palate according to one incremental stage of the palatal expansion plan, wherein the palatal expander has a first rigidity; 
 wherein placing the palatal expander comprises receiving one or more of the patient's teeth in one or more teeth receiving portions of the palatal expander, and positioning one or more anchors extending from the patient's maxilla into corresponding one or more anchor interfaces of the palatal expander, wherein the one or more anchor interfaces direct at least a portion of the outward, lateral force to the patient's maxilla through the one or more anchors to facilitate skeletal expansion of the patient's maxilla according to the one incremental stage of the palatal expansion plan; and 
 wherein one or more soft portions of the palatal expander has a second rigidity less than the first rigidity of the palatal region, wherein the second rigidity facilitates gripping of the one or more anchors by the one or more soft portions. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein placing the palatal expander comprises placing the palatal region against the patient's palate when the one or more anchors are positioned within the corresponding one or more anchor interfaces. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein placing the palatal expander comprises providing a space between the palatal region from the patient's palate when the one or more anchors are positioned within the corresponding one or more anchor interfaces. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more anchor interfaces include one or more openings, and wherein the one or more soft portions reside within the one or more openings, and wherein placing the palatal expander comprises positioning the one or more anchors within the one or more openings. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more anchor interfaces are formed within the palatal region, and wherein the one or more anchor interfaces are located on opposing lateral sides of the palatal region.